A TRIP to Ebbsfleet United on the opening day of the Blue Square Bet Premier campaign holds no fears for York City manager Gary Mills.

Mills will kick-off his first full season in the Minstermen hot-seat against newly-promoted Fleet at Stonebridge Road on Saturday, August 13.

The City boss believes a positive result on day one would set the club up perfectly for a Bootham Crescent double-header against Barrow, on Tuesday, August 16, and Telford United, on Saturday, August 20.

A stuttering start under predecessor Martin Foyle ultimately thwarted Mills’ thrust for a play-off place last term, and he stressed the importance of a flying start this time around.

“I don’t care who you are, when the fixtures come out, you always look at the first six games and think ‘we’ve got a good start, we should be picking up points here and there’,” he said.

“It’s nice to have that expectation and get the place buzzing before the season starts.”

He added: “We know it was the start that cost us getting into the play-offs last season, so everybody knows the importance of getting off to a good start.

“It’s lovely to win the first game. It gives everyone a boost, but the final game is the most important in deciding where you are going to end up.

“Mentally, it is unbelievable what reaction people have to the result of the first game. But Crawley lost at home to Grimsby in their first game last year and they won the league.”

Mills declared his first-day record was “okay” during his time at the helm of Tamworth. The Lambs won two and drew two of their four opening fixtures under his stewardship.

“I like going away in the first game to pick up a result because you then know you’ve got two home games coming up after that,” he said.

“We will be ready when we go to Ebbsfleet – ready to work hard in what will be a tough season.”

City will play 18 league games in the opening three months of the campaign.

Mansfield Town again provide the festive opposition, with City at Field Mill on Boxing Day before the Bootham Crescent return on New Year’s Day.

Forest Green Rovers are the visitors on the final day of the campaign, Saturday, April 28.